Strong Finish Lifts WSU Past Saint Mary’s, 57-50 on Senior Day

Saturday, February 28

Pullman, Wash.

12 PM

Washington State University

7-24,6-12WCC

Saint Mary's College of California

15-16,6-12WCC

Saint Mary's (CA)

Washington St.

Photo by: Dean Hare/WSU Photo Services

Strong Finish Lifts WSU Past Saint Mary’s, 57-50 on Senior Day

February 28, 2026 | Women's Basketball

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By: Washington State Athletic Communications

PULLMAN, Wash. (February 28, 2026) – Washington State women's basketball put together a gritty, wire-to-wire effort Saturday afternoon at Beasley Coliseum, holding off Saint Mary's for a 57-50 win.

The Cougars (7-24, 6-12 WCC) used interior toughness, timely shot-making, and a composed finish in the final minutes to earn a victory in the season finale. WSU finished with a 38-29 rebounding advantage and scored 36 points in the paint.

Eleonora Villa led the Cougars with 13 points, adding a key three-pointer and multiple finishes at the rim.

Alex Covill posted a strong interior performance with 12 points, a team-high eight rebounds, and two blocks, anchoring the paint on both ends.

Malia Ruud matched Covill with 12 points, scoring efficiently around the basket and delivering several timely buckets in the fourth quarter.

Mackenzie Chatfield filled the stat sheet with six points, five rebounds, four assists, and three steals, directing the offense and setting the defensive tone.

WSU set the tone early with defensive pressure and work on the glass, forcing eight Saint Mary's turnovers in the opening quarter. After the Gaels took an early lead, Eleonora Villa answered at the buzzer with a driving jumper to give WSU a 9-8 edge after one.

Washington State created separation in the second quarter by attacking the paint and winning second-chance opportunities. Alex Covill established a steady presence inside, while Malia Ruud and Mackenzie Chatfield sparked the offense with cuts and ball movement. A Charlotte Abraham three midway through the period pushed the lead to eight, and the Cougars carried a 29-20 advantage into halftime after outscoring Saint Mary's 20-12 in the frame.

Saint Mary's made its push coming out of the break, trimming the margin with a pair of three-pointers and fast-break chances. Each time, Washington State responded. Villa knocked down a three to halt momentum, Covill converted multiple putbacks, and the Cougars repeatedly answered Gael runs to maintain a slim but steady edge. WSU entered the fourth quarter up 42-38 after weathering the surge.

The final 10 minutes turned into a physical, possession-by-possession battle. Saint Mary's briefly grabbed a one-point lead midway through the quarter, but Washington State responded with its best stretch of composure. Keandra Koorits finished through contact, Ruud scored twice inside, and Villa continued to pressure the defense off the bounce as the Cougars reclaimed control.

Defensively, WSU closed the door with stops and rebounding, holding the Gaels scoreless from the field over the final 1:30. Ruud's jumper with 34 seconds left gave Washington State a six-point cushion, and the Cougars sealed the win at the free-throw line and on the defensive end.

Notes

Eleonora Villa's 13 points puts her at 1,414 career points, 11th in program history and 71 from 10th (1,485).
Villa also has 500 points this season, the most she has scored in a single-season, and 10^th-most all-time in program history.
Villa made one three to move to 136 career made threes, 10th all-time at WSU and five away from 9th (141).
Villa's six make puts her at 557 made field goals for her career, ninth all-time at WSU, and 19 from t-seventh (576).
Now at 3,368 career minutes played, Villa is ninth all-time at WSU, and 27 from eighth (3,395).
Alex Covill tallied two blocks to move to 146 career blocks, sixth all-time in program history and one from moving up to fifth (147).
Covill's 12 points moved her past the 500 career point mark as she now has 502.
Covill's eight rebounds moved her past the 250 career rebound mark as she now has 256.
Charlotte Abraham's six points puts her at 487 career points, 13 away from 500.
Abraham's one rebounds put her at 191 for the season, 46 away from top-10 all-time at WSU in a single-season (237).
The team's 38 rebounds tied for the fourth-most in a single game this season.
WSU's five blocks matched the third-highest block total for the season.

Up Next
The Cougars will look ahead to the West Coast Conference Basketball Tournament in Las Vegas, Nev., March 5-10. The official bracket with seeding will be released on Sunday, March 1.

Single-game tickets for the 2025-26 Women's Basketball season are on sale now. Fans wishing to purchase tickets can click on the link HERE, visit wsucougars.com to order online, or call the WSU Athletics Ticket Office at 1-800-GO-COUGS.

For all the latest WSU women's basketball news, photos and videos, like the team on Facebook (facebook.com/WSUCougarWBB), or follow on Twitter (@WSUCougarWBB) and Instagram (@wsucougarwbb).